The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-17

hands of q receiver. This phase OF the oc
culrence is anything but pleasant to the
owners of the road who will unquestiona-
bly, fight to the bitter end all claims for
dsmsges. The questions of negligence or
undue diligence on the part of TIE servants
OF the corporation involves several knotty
legal propositions which probably will
necessitate the ruling OF the court of last
resort, towit; The United States Supreme
Bench.
SUPERINTENDENT ARxsTRoNG's VIEWS.
The superintendent of the road, Mr..
Armstrong, by indirection az least, claims
the accident was in no wise the result OF
negligence or the lack of are-simply by
act of God. Mr.. Armstrong ana his fore
man of bridges insist that tbs structure
was entirely safe and the roadoed In condi-
ton to stand rapid transit. From the
evidence adduced before the railroad
board it appears that the train was speed
ing along at from thirty to thirty-tive miles
per hour. Mr.. Armstrong says the track
is in fair order having the customary num-
Der of ties per mile. and steel rails with
fish bar attachments There is unques-
tened evidence to show the airbrakes
were tested twice at Peoria and once at
Forest where coach was dropped and an
other substituted. Mr.. Marley says he
examined the bridge in May last and con-
sidered it safe for two years to come.
Many people here express belief that
the train was wrecked by thieves for pur-
poses of plunder. Nothing in substantial
ton of this theory has as yet been de-
veloped. Mr.. Armstrong told the COM
missioners day that he ordered 3 general
inspection of the bridges along the road
with view of ascertaining their exact con-
dition. He Will produce evidence in sup
port OF this proposition before the CON-
missioners on Tuesday next.
The claim is made that the trestle would
not STAND the weight of two locomotives,
and that the first engine broke do n the
bridge by sudden reverse, followed by an
immediate opening of the throttle. The
fact that the bridge was burning out is
clearly established. but no one can give
any clear idea as to the cause of the fire.
Some still cry incendiarism, while others
are equally vociferous in their shouts that
the leaves and dry grass near the bridge
caught fire from spark and communi-
Gated it to the trestle.
The Railroad Commissioners were at the
scene of the disaster to-day and will en-
deavor to locate the exact cause of the &C.
currence. The task is no easy one, but
the officers of the State, by virtue of an
act passed at the last session OF the Lsgis-
lature, ere clothed with full authority to
investigate all persons and papers and re-
port. They laid the foundation of an ex-
animation to-day, and will resume opera
lions in Peoria on Tuesday next. 1t is
bound to make great big lawsuit, one
that will furnish new precedents and rul-
ings on the law of common carriers.
The coroners jury is still pegging away.
There are some scores OF witnesses yet de-
string to be examined, and the railroad
board will make an investigation on Its
own account. The matter will probably
not be adjusted for ten years to come. All
manner of speculation is heard here
AS To THE NUMBER OF DEAD.
The coroner says he can account for
seventy seven bodies, and believes there
are no more in the wreck. The latter
branch OF the statement is undoubtedly
true, but the latest and most re-
liable advices swell the number of
fatalities to over eighty. The railroad
people have agents at work collecting in
formation as TO the number and residences
OF the dead and wounded. Many were
taken away from Chatsworth and Piper
City early yesterday morning before the
extent of their injuries was known. Some
of these have, it is said, died to-day. The
railroad people say that eighty-seven have
already died, and thirteen more are in a
critical condition.
1t is understood the company will to-
night, through its general offices at Peoria,
furnish to the public a complete list of
the dead, wounded and missing. Unless
this is done the general public will never
know the full extent of the calamity. The
bodies of the victims, nearly all of the
wounded and the personal effects of the
passengers are no longer in Chatsworth
and Piper City. All efforts to accurately
ascertain the identity of the sufferers have,
up to this time, been unavailing. The cor
oner himself is at sea with his figures, and
now lntimates that he may possibly have
underestimated the full extent of the dis
aster. The railroad Officials alone can en-
Tighten the public on this point. The
newspapers are powerless. as numerous
bodies and wounded people were removed
before any Of the correspondents arrived
in Chatsworth.